1st, most memorable recording...

Back in the 80's, the turning point for me becoming an audiophile was hearing Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" from his "Born in the USA" album through a friend's powerful system with Klipschorns. I was floored, and still remember it to this day.

Grateful Dead
Europe 72 - China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider.
Grateful Dead - Not Fade Away/Goin Down The Road Feelin Bad.

Sherwood 100w receiver (still have, doesn't work)
Beyer Dynamics headphones (still have, don't work)
EV Interphase A speakers (still have, don't work)
Nearfield listening position (about 3' triangle).

My brother in law used to play it through his Bose PA (the angled one, with several (9-12) 3-4" speakers in a small cabinet) and bass cabinets from his band with the PA amplifiers, in about a 500 sq. ft. room.

Still have the original albums, but can't quite recreate the experience.

Jim S.

This thread was fun for me, not only reminiscing about my start in upper-end audio but to hear other experiences as well.

I forgot to mention that I bought my buddies system when he moved out of state. Those big ol` merlin 3-way, 5 driver speakers are long gone but I have the tsm/mm`s on order. Merlin`s for me, man.

And of course, "Bolero" wasn`t "by" the Philadelphia orchestra as I misstaded, but performed by it. I listen to mostly jazz and old r&r but bolero is a kick-ass orchestral piece that everybody should play on their system and a must have imho. It`s on the EMI classics label.

Anybody else?

Probably Jazz at the Pawnshop for me.

CD's were still somewhat in their infancy, and most completely unacceptable to these ears.

1st heard this recording at an audio salon in Marin county, north of San Fran. Played on Eminent Technology speakers, the recording blew me away.

The Opus label also had some good stuff back then as well.